SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright Š
973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Bible Publishers.

The New Testament is clear that if we hope to share the inheritance with the
Lord Jesus Christ we must share in His sufferings. What were the sufferings of
Jesus Christ? Why are we called to share in them? Why do we have to be made like
Christ in His death? What does such suffering and death accomplish in our
personality?

SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of
sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, And so, somehow, to
attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10,11NIV)

The New Testament is clear that if we hope to share the inheritance with the
Lord Jesus Christ we must share in His sufferings. What were the sufferings of
Jesus Christ? Why are we called to share in them? Why do we have to be made like
Christ in His death? What does such suffering and death accomplish in our
personality?

In the third chapter of the Book of Philippians Paul tells us that he counted
all that he had gained as a prominent Pharisee as garbage in order that his
whole personality might be immersed in Christ and be part of Christ.

Paul sought to know Christ in the very deepest, fullest sense.

Then he expressed his driving motivation in the above passage.

Paul wanted to live in the power of Christs resurrection. Paul wanted to
become like Christ in His death.

Paul was endeavoring to be so much a part of Christs death and life that
he would be totally ready to be raised in eternal Divine life at the appearing
of the Lord from Heaven.

Because of current Evangelical teaching we cannot readily understand Pauls
effort to attain the first resurrection, the resurrection out from the dead. Our
doctrine does not accept this point of view, pointing rather to a
"rapture" in which all believers, regardless of spiritual attainment,
are included.

In the days to come we will be found to have been incorrect in our
understanding of the resurrection from the dead. The truth is, the resurrection
to life must be attained.

But how is it attained? How do we prepare ourselves today to participate in
the coming resurrection of the royal priesthood?

We prepare ourselves today by living each day in the power of Christs
resurrection and being willing to permit the Holy Spirit of God to bring us into
the kind of sufferings that Christ experienced.

We know when we are baptized in water we are baptized into the crucifixion of
Christ and into the resurrection and ascension of Christ. This is a position we
are to take by faith. As we count each day that we have died with Christ and
have been resurrected with Christ, the Holy Spirit brings our dual position into
reality. We are brought down to death each day, in some form or another, and we
are raised up each day by the power of Christs resurrection. This is the true
nature of the Christian life.

The fifty-third and fifty-fourth chapters of the Book of Isaiah give us
insight into the some of the forms of suffering we will experience if we are
being prepared by the Spirit to rule with Christ.

Most of us are familiar with the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. This famous
passage tells us of the sufferings of Christ. While many of the sufferings
described in this chapter have to do with the sufferings associated with the
atonement for sin, which we shall never be called on to experience since the
atonement has been made once and for all time, there are other aspects that are
common to Jesus Christ and to the members of His Body.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that
we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2NIV)

Sometimes we hear people talk about the "beautiful Jesus." Anyone
who follows Jesus in sincere discipleship will soon find out that our salvation
is far from beautiful. It is rugged, difficult at times, demanding all the
patience and courage we can bring to the conflict. So it was with our Lord.

God may bring us down until there is nothing in our appearance that is
desirable to people.

We may build a beautiful church and hope people will be impressed with how
wonderful everything looks. It is well to have a clean, attractive building; but
in other countries today Christians are being raped and sold into slavery. It is
not unusual for saints to leave bloody footprints in the snow.

We are far too soft in America. I think the coming days will show us that God
is not interested in our being beautiful and wonderful. We may be brought down
to horrible circumstances. But, historically speaking, this is part of the
normal Christian life.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3NIV)

Would we be popular? Christ was despised by people. This is part of the
sufferings of Christ which we are to experiencebeing made despicable in the
eyes of the people around us.

We are not being persecuted very much in America. Maybe we will some day.
Then we will have a clearer understanding of how Christ and the Apostles lived
on the earth.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4NIV)

As I said before, we are not called upon to make an atonement for sin. But as
we serve God we may be required to fill up that which is lacking of the
sufferings of Christ.

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is
still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body,
which is the church. (Colossians 1:24NIV)

We hear of a young minister who is all excited because he believes that God
has called him to found a church in a certain area. It is one of the highest of
all honors when the Lord God of Heaven commissions us to start a church.

But you can be sure that before the church is firmly established our young
minister will suffer the pangs of spiritual birth. This always is necessary if
Satan is to be overthrown and a place made ready for Gods feet.

It reminds me of the five young missionaries who were speared by the Aucas.
Their death opened the way for salvation to come to these Indians. But what a
price was paid by the wives of the young men! It is always so when God sends us
against the kingdom of Hell.

The sufferings of Christ must be fulfilled for the sake of His Body.

No, it is not a beautiful sight to see the bodies of five fine young men
floating in a river. Strange ashes indeed!

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led
like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so
he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7NIV)

The Apostle Paul tells us how he was afflicted, struck down, perplexed, in
frequent fastings, and in perils of many kinds. But he continually was being
lifted by the power of Christs resurrection. Christs power was being made
perfect in Pauls affliction.

Sometimes in America Christians act as though they own the country, as though
their kingdom is this present world. They are loud in their demands that their
will be followed. But the Lord Jesus Christ was not like this. Satan invited him
to be a king. People tried to make him a king. But Gods King did not force
His will on anyone. He waited patiently for God to raise Him from the dead. Now
He possesses all authority and power in Heaven and on the earth.

So it is true that we ultimately shall be brought to authority and power over
the nations. But not until we are willing to be as a sheep before its shearers,
when the occasion calls for it.

We American Christians need to learn quietness and humility! We are not to
attempt to force our will, unless God should specifically direct us to do so.
The way of Christ is to keep our mouth shut when we are oppressed and afflicted.
This is the only kind of treatment we can expect to receive, in the present
hour.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9NIV)

One of the most difficult of the sufferings we American Christians are called
upon to experience is that of being treated unjustly. This may not be the case
with Christians in impoverished countries, who are accustomed to being treated
unfairly. But in America we must have our rights or we shall sue someone.

The truth is, a true Christian will suffer many injustices and have lies
spread about him. Satan will make sure he will be slandered by his fellow
Christiansespecially if he has set himself to wait on God that Gods will
might be done.

Others will seek to supplant him, to take credit for the hard work he has
done, to ascribe evil motives to him when he is endeavoring to do good. Though
his mouth is free from deceit he will be called a liar.

Has any of this happened to you? If it has you will know of what I am
speaking.

We are not to respond. We are not to seek to justify ourselves, unless God
directs us to speak out. We are to forget about our marvelous testimony and look
only to God. Unjust accusations were voiced against Jesus Christ. You and I are
called to experience His sufferings. And we shallwe must if we expect to rule
with Him.

Our sinful, adamic nature will howl in protest because we are not being
treated fairly. We are not receiving our just due. But we are to shut our mouth
and submit ourselves to God. We are not to become bitter against the Christians
the Lord permits to criticize us. We are to let every pain drive us further into
the Lord, further into conformity to His death.

Satan was continually seeking to call Christ down from His high place in God.
People will accuse you of all sorts of things and seek to call you down from
your high place in God. Continue peaceably on your way. No weapon that is formed
against you will be successful. Trust in God.

We have been called to walk in the resurrection power of Christ and to share
in His sufferings. Only by so doing can we attain the first resurrection, the
resurrection of the royal priesthood, the resurrection and ascension that will
take place when the Lord appears from Heaven with His holy angels.

Yet it was the LORDs will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though
the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong
his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10NIV)

As I said, we do not become a guilt offering. But the other aspects of this
verse are true of each member of the Body of Christ, each person destined to
appear with Him and rule with Him in His glory.

The Lord will crush us until our natural strength is greatly weakened.

The Lord will cause us to suffer. There is too much rebuking of the devil
among American Christians. Our problem is not the devil, it is Jesus Christ.
When we please Christ, He will take care of the devil. It is God who is causing
us to suffer even though God may use Satan as an instrument, just as Christ did
in the case of the Apostle Paul.

Please Christ and let Him take care of the devil!

Who do you think you areGods conquering hero? Let God bring you down
into the dust so He may raise you and use you according to His desires. He is
not your servant. You are His servant!

If we are willing to let the Lord crush us, then the will of the Lord shall
prosper in our hand. We shall see the children who will be brought forth because
we were faithful to God. If we give our best to God, God will give His best to
us. You can count on this!

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be
satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he
will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11NIV)

God may call on you to labor for many years with apparently meager results.
All that matters is faithfulness. Let others brag about their great success in
the Kingdom. Know that God is not impressed with great success, as measured by
the opinions of people. God honors one virtue above all, and that is
faithfulness. Be utterly faithful to that to which God has called you, and you
will be part of the appearing of Christ.

God is looking for faithful people to follow Him whose very name is Faithful!

If you are faithful to God, you can be certain one day you will come forth
into the light. Then you will be satisfied when you see what God has done
through your faithful obedience.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide
the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and
was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12NIV)

We are coheirs with Jesus Christ if we are willing to share His sufferings.

Now if we are children, then we are heirsheirs of God and coheirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in
his glory. (Romans 8:17NIV)

Christ will divide the inheritance with us. The inheritance is people. But we
must be strong in the Lord, and we must be willing to pour out our life in the
service of God. We must deny ourselves for Christs sake and His Gospels.

We may not think of people as being the kind of inheritance we would prefer.
Perhaps we are pleased with the idea of a mansion in glory and a backyard
filled with diamonds. What nonsense!

The only inheritance worth having is people! To inherit one person is better
than ten thousand heavens. Jesus knows this well and tells us all about it in
the Song of Solomon.

Christ has inherited a vast number of people and the farthest reaches of the
earth for His possession. He is delighted to share the inheritance with His
younger brothers, but only if we are willing to walk in the power of His
resurrection and be brought into conformity to His sufferings and death.

Remembering that the Prophets did not write in chapters, we pass now to a
continuation of the description of Gods dealings with His suffering servants.

"Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song,
shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the
desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:1NIV)

We understand from the Scriptures that for a woman to be barren in those days
was a terrible affliction, perhaps in some cases a tragedy. Yet God invites the
barren woman to burst into song, to shout for joy, for she shall have many
children.

We think of Sarah, of Hannah, of Elizabeth. When God is ready to do a great
work He first causes barrenness. He tears apart and then binds up.

If we would serve the Lord we must accept the fact that God often brings us
low before He raises us up. This is the way the Lord works.

If we are being denied the joys that ordinarily would be ours, and we are a
servant of the Lord, then we are to rejoice mightily in the assurance that God
is doing something special. He is preparing to lift us up.

There was nothing wrong with Hannahs ability to bear children. We know
this because she had several children after Samuel was born.

But Samuel was a special child from an early age. So was John the Baptist.
God has His ways and they often are not our ways.

The average woman may have many children. But would you like to try to count
the children of the barren Sarah?

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold
back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to
the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle
in their desolate cities. (Isaiah 54:2,3NIV)

Just because God has kept you in prison, dont become a prisoner in your
heart. Remember Joseph who one day was in prison and the next day second only to
Pharaoh of Egypt.

Set joy before you. Then you can endure your cross. If Gods hand is on
you, you may be destined to bring forth an astonishing amount of fruit. Grasp
your life and you will lose everything of value. Be willing to die with Christ
and you shall gain all that is of true value.

There is no disappointment in Jesus. Those who suffer in Christ are destined
to govern nations!

Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will
not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more
the reproach of your widowhood. (Isaiah 54:4NIV)

Yes, you may be embarrassed in front of younger people who are very
successful. Yes, God may make you nothing in the sight of others. But if you are
suffering in God and not because of your own laziness and indifference, you can
be assured that the hour will come in which God will vindicate your patient
trust in Him. Then you will forget your momentary embarrassment and your
temporary barrenness.

For your Maker is your husbandthe LORD Almighty is his namethe Holy One
of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5NIV)

How wonderful to be married to God! How marvelous to be set aside by the Lord
until we are dead to the opinions of other people. How desirable to be special
to the Lord in this manner.

Others may have great results to show for their religious endeavors. Their
names may be household words while you remain unknown.

Someone said we do not take our most precious things or relationships and
flaunt them in front of people. So it is with those who are precious to God. He
often keeps them hidden from curious eyes. He does not cast His jewels before
swine.

We may long for the acclaim of the people of the earth. But God is the God of
the whole earth. It is better to be acclaimed by God than by the whole
population of the world.

When God is dealing strongly with us we can forget about help from other
people. He may use someone to assist us, but He is quick to remind us that our
help comes only from Him. He becomes jealous over us and will not let us be
either hindered or raised up by others. He lets us know that from now on we are
in His keeping, and other individuals, no matter how highly placed, can neither
harm us nor help us. We are His, and He is the God of the whole earth.

The breath of every human being is entirely at the disposal of Jesus Christ.
To place our trust in men, even those of high distinction, is a snare to our
feet and blindness to our eyes.

"The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and
distressed in spirita wife who married young, only to be rejected," says
your God. "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I
will bring you back. "In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a
moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says
the LORD your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:6-8NIV)

If you have not already experienced such apparent rejection, let me assure
you that you shall if you keep following the Lord. It is His way.

When we first receive Christ we are as children. The Lord treats us as
children.

But then there comes a time when God sees that we are going to seek Him
consistently.

Now, we must understand there are many areas of our personality that are not
at all in keeping with Gods personality. He is angry with these. He brings us
into much suffering that our worldliness, lust, and self-will may be driven from
us. This is how He reconciles Himself to us and us to Himself.

It is of the greatest importance that we hold steady during such seasons of
seeming abandonment. We need to keep assuring ourselves of Gods faithfulness,
because His dealings with us may continue for several years, depending on our
calling in the Kingdom.

When our suffering has accomplished its purpose, God returns to us and
comforts us. We come up out of the wilderness leaning on our beloved, so to
speak. It has been a Valley of Achor, a place of judgment. But this is the only
route to marriage to the Lord.

It is a Job experience. We cannot expect others to understand us, and their
advice may be as a tinkling cymbal. But we are to hold fast in faith, because
the Holy One of Israel is utterly faithful.

It may seem that we have committed some grievous sin and God has forsaken us.
But God never forsakes those who are steadfastly trusting Him to save them. He
may chastise them severely, but He never, never, never shall forsake those who
are trusting Him to save them.

After we have suffered sufficiently we shall be brought forth into peace and
a larger place.

Think of how Christ suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross. "My God,
why have You forsaken Me?" We will be given our own Gethsemane, our own
cross, if we are called to govern with Him. But hold steady. Such suffering does
come to an end. Stay in your prison and you will receive the crown of life. All
of Gods saints have the same experience of seeming abandonment and then
renewal into a larger place.

You indeed shall see the travail of your soul and be satisfied. God has never
failed anyone yet and He will not fail you!

"To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of
Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with
you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be
removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of
peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah
54:9,10NIV)

How do you like this promise: "I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again"? Isnt that something?

It is worth having the Lord tear us apart, because when He binds us up it is
such a blessing. This is easy to say once we have been through the Divine fire,
but the program of redemption can be very demanding while we are going through
it.

The following verses tell us the barren woman has become the new Jerusalem.

O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with
stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make
your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls
of precious stones. (Isaiah 54:11,12NIV)

So it is , as the Apostle Paul says,
that our momentary affliction is creating
for us an indescribably great, eternal weight of glory. We simply are unable to
imagine the wonders that the Lord God has prepared for those who love Him, who
wait patiently for Him while religious men plot, scheme, and work feverishly in
order to secure their own advancement. They always will scorn the humble of
heart who look only to Jesus. They always will seek to murder the Lords
Christ wherever He appears. This you can expect.

All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your childrens
peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near
you. (Isaiah 54:13,14NIV)

Much of our life on earth is filled with dread, with fear, with terror. One
of the happiest thoughts of our future with the Lord is that all terror and
dread will be far removed from us and never come near us again.

While the expression "great will be your childrens peace" may
possibly be speaking of our spiritual children in the future, I think we might
be safe in claiming this promise for our children in the present world. This
particular promise has been a comfort to me and my wife.

The Lord stores up good things for those who wait patiently for Him.

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will
surrender to you. (Isaiah 54:15NIV)

The Bible tells us that whoever departs from iniquity makes himself a prey.
In many instances in the Bible the prophets and saints were the prey of the
Israelites themselves. Look how the men of Anathoth sought to kill Jeremiah, and
how he was treated by the nobles of Israel!

We do not necessarily incur the wrath of other Christians when we make a
profession of Christ. It is when we actually depart from sin and begin to
practice righteousness that the trouble commences and we are called hypocrites,
Pharisees, legalists, and whatever else comes to mind. It is always this way
with Israel!

It is so today. When we turn from the typical church foolishness and begin to
seek the Lord earnestly, we may find that the other Christians will scorn us. It
doesnt matter. All that truly matters is Gods opinion of us.

Then we have the promise that if our ways please the Lord He will make even
our enemies to be at peace with us.

When a mans ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live
at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7NIV)

And in addition:

"See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer
to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute
every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:16,17NIV)

We do not have to worry about our enemies. It is God who creates the
destroyer and his ability to destroy. If we are found in God, how can we be
harmed? God will never permit His own to be harmed, unless, as we have stated,
He is bringing them to Himself through suffering.

Nor should we be overly disturbed concerning those who slander us. We do not
have to rush about and defend ourselves. God will vindicate us.

We ought always to pray when people criticize us. Perhaps they are correct
and we need to turn to God for help in changing. This is a good and constructive
attitude on our part.

But after we are assured they are in error in their accusations, we can rest
in God until He vindicates us. We do not have to worry about our reputation or
our testimony. The Lord Jesus was slandered on many occasions. This is part of
His sufferings that we are to share.

Resurrection life comes only from crucifixion. Let us join the Apostle Paul
in seeking to experience the power of Christs resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings.

Paul had suffered so much he had the sentence of death in himself such that
he did not trust in himself but in God who raises the dead. Paul went from one
source of pain to another, it appears. His life after his conversion was not an
enviable one.

Yet Paul learned to rejoice when he was made weak, because then the strength
of Christ took over and accomplished the tasks at hand.

Our adamic wisdom and life at their best are so very frail, so very
incomplete. This is the way God has made us. It never was Gods intention that
the adamic race be permanent. Our first life is nothing more than an opportunity
to surrender to God so the only true, eternal life, that which Christ is, can
have another dwelling in which to be enlarged.

We are destined to be a life-giving spirit. This is the role of each member
of the royal priesthood. We enter our destiny only to the extent we are willing
to be brought down to death each day in order that we might be raised in eternal
resurrection life.

Thus our sufferings in Christ, that which brings our natural life down to
weakness and death, are the only means to what we desire above all elseto
live in Christ in eternal love, joy, and peace.